Serves meat, vegan options available. Italian-run restaurant in San Diego's Little Italy since 2015. Menu has a vegan section offering items like spinach ravioli, lasagna, fettucine, fried mushrooms, and cheese substitute. Vegan gelato and tiramisu for dessert. Makes pasta in-house. Open Mon 12:00pm-9:30pm, Tue-Thu 4:00pm-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 12:00pm-10:30pm, Sun 12:00pm-9:30pm.
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1845 India St (at Little Italy), San Diego, California, USA, 92101
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 05 Jan 2022 by Vegnrnr
Update business info -
Added by mutant_pie on 11 Jun 2015
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129 Reviews
First Review by vsvihla
theokaforceawakens
Points +98
Great Vegan Italian - Edit
My family went here in December and had a fantastic experience. We ate outside. Staff was friendly. The cook (owner?) came out and talked to us for a while about vegan food. Everything was at least solid, with few things standing out. As simple as it was, I really liked the bread. The calamari was creative and is probably my favorite vegan version. We love their Bruschetta. And the olives make their Spaghetti pop.
Read moreGuest
archaeofiero
Points +1335
Rats - Edit
Wish I'd read the previous review about their health department issues before I ate here 🤢🤮. The food was pretty bad, as much as I appreciate vegan options, it's not good.
Read moreThe vegan calamari was the only thing we liked out of the 4 dishes we ordered.
Guest
hlcurtis29
Points +50
Wasn’t as good as hoping - Edit
Vegan lasagna was just okay.., ambiance was just okay.., bread was not that good, kids pasta was not great at all.., overall, left slightly dissatisfied.
Read moreGuest
PaulaSaracen
Points +20
Temporarily Closed for Health Violations - Edit
Due to a health inspection on 3/12/25, Civico is temporarily closed. One of the major reasons is due to vermin infestation (rats). They have been struggling with this for years and this is why I never eat there. I walk by in the mornings and you can see rats running in and out from the street.
Read moreGuest
kbarthol9
Points +53
Great flavors! - Edit
Menu had about half a dozen app and entree vegan options and it was hard to decide! The caprese was ample with a nice vegan mozz but the winner was the spaghetti and meatballs. After being in Rome last month, the noodles were really almost the same texture. The veg-balls were so flavorful, eggplant, olive, and tomato sauce was delicious. Definite winner
Read moreGuest
EricKenichi
Points +22
excepcional italian vegan food - Edit
the vegan lasagna was excepcional, they have a part of the menu exclusive to vegan dishes, expensive, but worthy.
Read morein the other side, the dessert were not good at all, especially the tiramisu and the affogato
in general, very good food and nice serving
Pros: lasagna , focaccia
Cons: tiramisu , affogato
Guest
DonnaGillespie
Points +78
Dedicated vegan menu - Edit
It was lovely to have a selection of authentic Italian vegan dishes in a warm, friendly atmosphere.
Read morePros: Choices, Lasagna, Dessert options
Cons: Wish they had vegan pizza
Guest
CarmenCollar
Points +43
Absolutely delicious - Edit
Nice selection of vegan options. We had the carbonara, vegan calamari and puttanesca. The food was absolutely delicious with nice portions. Cocktails and beer were very good. I absolutely recommend this restaurant. My non vegan boyfriend loved it as much as me.
Read morePros: Delicious food, good selection., Great service. Knowledgeable and helpful staff., Great atmosphere
Guest
AuntAlisa
Points +133
Delicious vegan options - Edit
Started with great bread. Delicious vegan mushroom lasagna. Nice service. Comfortable setting.
Read moreGuest
annies755
Points +662
Loved the vegan options - Edit
Happy to find a restaurant in Little Italy that had clearly marked vegan options on their menu. Food was delicious, service was great and restaurant was nicely decorated.
Read moreGuest
ShelbyHallman
Points +116
Amazing focaccia - Edit
The focaccia was one of the best things I have ever eaten and why I gave 4 stars instead of 3.
Read moreThe vegan lasagna was also great. My only complaint is that the lasagna noodles were not completely cooked. The middle was raw dough but regardless, it still tasted delicious.
I unfortunately was not a fan of the vegan cannoli; mine was pretty bland. Maybe just a bad day?
Would love to go back to try more of the vegan options.
Updated from previous review on 2024-07-10
Guest
samato8888
Points +16
Vegan cannoli!! - Edit
Title says it all. Great vegan entrees also. And eggplant!
Read moreGuest
AshKenyail
Points +2808
Delicious vegan Italian - Edit
I dined here in 2022, and I was pleasantly surprised how accommodating and helpful the restaurant staff were with helping me understand the vegan options available. The pasta I ordered was delicious! It's definitely a nice gem in Little Italy in San Diego.
Read moreGuest
Ichi123456
Points +28
Etwas teurer, das Geld aber total wert - Edit
Als Vorspeise gibt es gratis Foccacia mit Basilikumpesto. Das Brot war noch warm und schmeckte unglaublich gut.
Read moreAls Hauptgang hatte ich die vegane Lasagne die mich total umgehauen hat. Absolute Empfehlung
Der Service war super: schnell und extrem freundlich
Pros: Essen, Lage, Service
Cons: Parksituation
Guest
.Jlo
Points +40
Amazing find in Little Italy - Edit
The most amazing Italian food for vegans, actually one of the best meals I’ve had in long time. The service staff was wonderful and attentive. Not to be missed was the desert, will definitely go back when I’m in San Diego.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-05-25
Pros: Pasta with eggplant and vegan sausage , Dessert , Ambience
Guest
phatheadphil
Points +61
Worthy - Edit
If it wasn't for serving animal products and the occasional waft of fish smell, this place would be 5 stars. The Fiore Ripieno, Fusilli, Lasagna, and Cannoli all rocked. The server, Gio, was super attentive and pleasant. Vibe fit in with the modish scene of Little Italy.
Read morePros: Food tasted immaculate , Center of activities , Staff was friendly and dedicated
Cons: Fish smell, Not their fault but parking sucked
Guest
NickShackleton
Points +737
Amazing 🤩 - Edit
This place deserves a 5 ⭐️ review. The good is amazing. Vegan takes on Italian classics. 5 starters, 5 mains and 3 desserts.
Read moreGuest
VickiNewMath
Points +889
The best Italian vegan options! - Edit
Amazing service and you will not wait long for your food! The flavor is decadent and you will savir every single bite!
Read moreGuest
ScarletCastro
Points +26
Great vegan menu - Edit
I had the vegan lasagna and cannoli. They tasted great!
Read moreGuest
CamAndri
Points +40
Vegan Italian Food 😍 - Edit
Based on other reviews I decided to try Civico . It was a 15 minute walk from my hotel and worth the journey. Loved the bread and pesto appetizer. I’m glad it was vegan friendly as that is a rarity among most Italian restaurants that I’ve experienced. Ordered the Ragu Di Funghi and Cannoli pastry. Both were delicious! #Veganuary
Read morePros: Vegan Options, Food portion, Cocktail Selections
Guest
amyfoxinabox
Points +118
Would dine again - Edit
They have a fully vegan section of the menu with options for apps and mains. I had the bruschetta and the rigatoni. Both were delicious. The bread and pesto they serve are also vegan friendly according to our server.
Read morePros: Clearly marked vegan section of menu
Guest
HappyFoodLove1
Points +253
Civico 1845 boasts the first Italian Vegan Menu in the USA. - Edit
They bring a bag of focaccia and vegan pesto when you sit down. It is delicious! Everything I ate was so tasty! I appreciate having vegan options instead of one dish (in none fully vegan restaurants)
Read morePros: Delicious, Complimentary vegan pesto and focaccia
Cons: None
Guest
ssluchansky
Points +546
Limited choices but very good - Edit
Civico boasts of having the first Italian-Vegan menu in the US. Their vegan menu, though, has fewer than 10 options, half as starters, the other half as main dishes. (I can't help think of "John's of 12th Street" in NYC's East Village, where the vegan menu is almost as large as the regular menu and where the restaurant tries to veganize almost every non-vegan offering, including desserts. And, the food is great.) Civico's Lasagna and Ragu di Funghi dishes were excellent, a little pricey but substantial portions. Once the order has been placed, they serve a vegan focaccia with olive oil and basil, which is thoughtful and delicious. And, having a vegan tiramisu was a wonderful opportunity. Still, the vegan effort would feel more complete if they offered a vegan salad (caesar?) and/or soup. When I asked about veganizing a salad, I was told that they could serve the (non-vegan) caesar dressing on the side. I did really like what I had, and would return, but I keep thinking about John's of 12th Street.
Read morePros: Several very nice options, Friendly and efficient service
Cons: More options for salad, soup, dessert
Guest
TarynD
Points +40
Authentic Italian - Edit
Little Italy is so alive with music, dancing, and tons of Italian restaurants. It was very close to the airport and we went straight here when I arrived. We sat outside and enjoyed amazing wine and food. My friend, not a vegan, ended up ordering from the vegan menu because it looked so good!
Read moreThe food was AMAZING! The pasta dishes were so flavorful! Fungi Fettuccine, Putenesca, and the stuffed zucchini blossom were all delicious. I'm still thinking about the yummy food this morning! This place will not disappoint!
Pros: Fungi Fettuccine , Putenesca , Stuffed zucchini blossoms
Cons: Nothing, Nothing, Nothing
Guest
minthin
Points +889
Like what you get at home - Edit
Ok I actually really like this place. They take a lot of pride in their vegan menu, which makes me feel welcome as a vegan and attracted to come here.
Read moreI often avoid Italian because I love to cook, and Italian food is so easy to make at home. That goes for my experience here. The gnocchi I had was good, but not much different than I had at home. Maybe somebody with a more refined palate would be able to discern the careful details that I know the chefs put into this, but to a plebeian like me I was left unamazed. I am really glad that they were artful with using good vegan cheeses and other plant based foods. The lasagna was very good; not mind blowing but definitely enjoyed it. And the bread they bring out before the meal is wonderful, light and fluffy with some good dips.
The portions here are big; neither time did I finish my meal. So it’s great for sharing.
Given the prices and that the food is a lot like what I’d make at home, this is not a place I would rush back to. They do have a mushroom linguini on the vegan menu that looked fun. I hope they continue to channel that creativity.
Pros: Big portions, Lovely outdoor seating
Cons: Food is ordinary, Higher prices
Guest
MarkoHlibchuk
Points +33
Great vegan options - Edit
Had the vegan gnocchi dish and it was outstanding. They also label their vegan wines which I rarely ever see at restaurants. Finished our meal with the vegan tiramisu.
Read moreGuest
AlwaysForAnimals
Points +280
Omg so good - Edit
A dedicated vegan menu with amazing dishes! Caprese, gnocchi, lasagna, rigatoni!!! It was sooooo good and so nice to go to a fancy Italian dinner and get to order something delicious.
Read moreGuest
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